State Police Launch Holiday Driving Crackdown

Buckle up, or pay up, or go to jail. That’s a message police are sending to motorists and passengers throughout New York State who fail to comply with motor vehicle laws over the Thanksgiving holiday.

New York State police will be on local streets and highways over the Thanksgiving holiday season, cracking down on motorists who drink and drive, use electronic devices while driving and those who fail to buckle up while behind the wheel

State Troopers and officers assigned to the detail will multi-task and be on the lookout for drivers without seatbelts, drunk drivers, motorists talking or texting while driving and drivers who speed along local streets and highways, officials said. The increased enforcement will continue through Monday, November 27....

State police assigned to the crackdown will work with local police, putting a significant number of cops on streets and highways in he early morning hours and at closing time of most bars and nightclubs, on the lookout for drunk and distracted drivers, police officials said.

The crackdown will send officers to “hot spots” where the cops, who are trained to identify drunk drivers and administer Breathalyzer tests, will detain motorists at traffic checkpoints and quick stops. Police officials said the stepped-up enforcement is necessary to catch drunk and distracted drivers in the early morning hours, “when they are finished partying for the night.”

Cops assigned to the crackdown have been trained to identify drunk drivers by observing a motorists’ demeanor, how he or she is handling a vehicle and by engaging in conversation with the motorist to determine motor skills and if he or she is slurring their words.

Queens police officials are reminding motorists to think before they get behind the wheel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Officials said cops would nab drunk drivers; issue summonses for failure to use seat belts and will summons motorists caught using cell phones, tablets or other electronic devices while driving. Getting caught in the crackdown could also cost motorists points off their driver’s license, police said.

“This is a change from the regular holiday driving crackdown,” a police source said. “State police officials have made it clear that they mean business,”